FORT WORTH, Texas — Brian Davis is seemingly done penalizing himself. And now he gets another chance to challenge for his first PGA Tour victory.
After a second consecutive bogey-free 65 on Saturday, Davis shared the lead with Bryce Molder at 16-under-par 194 going into the final round of the Colonial.
When Davis got into a playoff last month at Hilton Head with Jim Furyk, Davis called a two-stroke penalty on himself on the extra hole that ensured a victory for the fifth-ranked player in the world.
Davis then finished 57th the following week at New Orleans and had missed three consecutive cuts before the Colonial.
“What happened during the playoff threw me off balance a little bit. I lost my focus,” Davis said.
The 35-year-old Englishman and Molder, the second-round leader who finished his 67 with eight consecutive pars, are hoping for a little plaid to signify finally winning on the PGA Tour. The Colonial champion gets a plaid jacket.
Molder has four top-10 performances this season, but the four-time All-American from Georgia Tech has one professional victory since leaving college in 2001 — on the Nationwide Tour in 2006.
It was another hot but ideal scoring day at Hogan’s Alley, which was swathed Saturday in pink — from the clothing worn by most golfers, officials and spectators to signs and ribbons to raise awareness for breast cancer. The forecast today calls for nearly identical conditions.
Molder expects the winning score to be at least 20- under. That would break Kenny Perry’s tournament- record mark of 19-under, which he set when winning in 2003 and 2005.
K.J. Choi teed off at No. 18 with a chance to match the course record of 61 with a birdie, but instead had a quadruple-bogey 8.
Davies, Donald lead
MADRID — Rhys Davies of Wales and Luke Donald of England were at 16-under 200 and took a two- shot lead going into the final round of the Madrid Masters. Davies shot a 5- under 67. Donald had a 68.
The Associated Press
